Keep the Wreath Green
The Cape Coral Fire Department recently kicked off its annual holiday fire safety campaign.
The “Keep the Wreath Green” campaign started on Dec. 1. For the fourth year in a row, a wreath illuminated with green bulbs has been placed outside Fire Station 4, at 2007 Santa Barbara Blvd. Every time a preventable fire occurs during December, one of the green bulbs is changed into a red one.
Preventable fires are fires caused by things like cooking, smoking, space heaters or candles.
“All of the bulbs are still green,” Andrea Schuch, spokeswoman for the CCFD, said on Tuesday.
Since the campaign’s start, the department has responded to a couple of fires. She pointed out though that the cause of the fires were out of the person’s control or unpreventable, like an electrical fire.
While the goal is for there to be no red bulbs, she noted that there are fewer green bulbs turning red, indicating that the community is becoming more fire safety conscious during the holidays. Last year the campaign ended with only one red bulb on the wreath, compared to five reds the previous two years.
“We’re optimists that the promotion of fire safety, particularly during the holidays, that people have heard the message and are making more of an effort,” Schuch said.
According to officials, the wreath is a visual reminder for the public to make fire safety a priority during the holidays – a time when residents can easily stray from their typical year-round routines.
“As everyone gets busier during the holidays, we often become rushed, distracted or tired,” Fire Chief Donald Cochran said via a prepared statement. “That’s when home fires are more likely to occur.”
The risk of fire in homes increases with the additional use of fireplaces, decorative lighting, live Christmas tress and the burning of candles. However, the season can remain festive and safe.
“By taking some preventative steps and following simple rules of thumb, most home fires can be prevented,” Schuch said.
Unattended cooking is the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries in America. After Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and Christmas Eve are the peak days for home cooking fires.
“Cooking is always a priority because cooking fires are the most common fires,” she said.
When frying, grilling or broiling, stay in the kitchen. When simmering, boiling, baking or roasting food, stay in the home and check on it frequently. Create a “kid-free zone” of at least three feet.
“It’s really good to remember when cooking to focus on the cooking,” Schuch said.
Before buying an artificial tree, make sure it is identified by the manufacturer as fire-retardant. With a live tree, look for signs of freshness when buying, add water daily and keep away from heat sources.
“It’s really important to keep your Christmas tree watered,” she said.
Once the holidays are over, dispose of the tree in a timely manner; do not try to keep it.
“They will dry out and you basically just have kindling in the house,” Schuch said.
This year, the CCFD provided the Christmas tree vendors throughout the city with fire safety and Christmas tree safety tags. The vendors can now provide the tags to residents as they a buy tree.
“It’s a neat extra step that the fire department is taking to make sure people are safe,” she said.
Closely inspect all holiday lighting before use to ensure all wires, bulbs and connections are in a safe condition. Use clips, not nails, to hang lights, and turn off all lights when leaving or going to bed.
“Use your outlets in an appropriate manner,” Schuch said.
Opt for a surge protector over a basic power strip when using multiple electrical cords.
“They (power strips) don’t do anything if there’s a surge in power,” she said.
When it comes to decorations, use those only made of flame-resistant, flame-retardant or non-consumable materials. Keep them away from heat sources, as well as windows and doors.
Two out of five home decoration fires are started by candles. Keep candles at least 12 inches away from decorations or other combustible materials, and never leave them unattended in a room.
“You never want to leave candles unattended in a room,” Schuch said. “And use candles with wide bases because it gives them more support so they’re less likely to fall over.”
Ensure smoke alarms work on each level of the home, and practice a fire escape plan.
“The holidays can quickly turn from joyful to tragic when a fire occurs,” she said. “By taking simple precautions, the citizens of Cape Coral can stay safe and ‘Keep the Wreath Green.'”
For additional information, visit: www.facebook.com/CapeCoralFD.